Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 Stopped by Smoke Before Las Vegas Takeoff
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aborted its departure from Las Vegas after pilots of a following aircraft reported heavy smoke from its right landing gear.
By The Aviation Hub
3 min read
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 was removed from service at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) on Friday after pilots of a trailing aircraft reported heavy smoke rising from its right main landing gear during taxi. The aircraft, operating as flight WN759 to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), never reached the runway.
What Happened on Flight WN759
According to Aviation A2Z, the crew of a separate Southwest flight, WN334, which was bound for Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), alerted air traffic control to the condition of the aircraft ahead. Those pilots reported that the right landing gear appeared to be on fire and asked for airport fire trucks to respond.
Other radio communications described heavy smoke coming from the right main landing gear. Pilots also reported what appeared to be pieces of brake material on the taxiway and a trail of fluid nearby, raising concerns about the aircraft's braking or hydraulic systems.
Southwest Airlines' Account of the Incident
Southwest spokesperson Lynn Lunsford told local broadcaster KSNV News 3 that the airline was concerned about a possible hydraulic issue. The spokesperson said there were no reports of a fire, distinguishing the airline's account from the initial observations made by the pilots of the following aircraft.
Aviation A2Z reports that the precise cause of the smoke and the reported brake damage was not established in the available information. Neither the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) nor the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had publicly commented at the time of the original report.
How the Airport Responded
Airport emergency personnel responded as the affected Boeing 737 MAX 8 was taken out of departure operations. Ground crews subsequently towed the aircraft back to the terminal, where passengers disembarked and were moved onto a replacement aircraft for the journey to Chicago.
No passenger injuries were reported in the available information.
The Delay to Passengers
The disruption was significant for those on board. Aviation A2Z notes that flight-tracking data showed WN759 eventually departed Las Vegas at 4:44 p.m. local time, against a scheduled departure of 12:15 p.m. The replacement aircraft arrived at Chicago Midway at 9:40 p.m., close to four hours after the scheduled arrival time of 5:45 p.m.
Southwest arranged another Boeing 737 MAX 8 to operate the delayed service. The airline did not disclose the number of passengers aboard the affected flight, though the type seats up to 175 in Southwest's configuration.
Landing Gear Incidents in Context
Landing gear events can take a number of forms, from hydraulic issues to brake-related problems. Our Squawk 7700 hub carries a live emergency board and archive of incidents for readers who want to track developments across the industry.
This is not the only recent landing gear story to draw attention. A TAP Air Portugal flight was involved in a divert to Porto after a headset was found tangled in its landing gear in July 2026, illustrating the variety of ways in which landing gear can become a focus during operations.
Readers with a broader interest in Southwest's fleet and operations can explore more through our Airline Search tool.
The Bottom Line
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 was pulled from the Las Vegas departure schedule after pilots of a trailing aircraft reported smoke and apparent brake damage at the right main landing gear during taxi on Friday. Southwest identified a possible hydraulic issue and confirmed no fire was reported by the airline, though the two accounts differ in their description of what was visible. No injuries were reported, and passengers were rebooked onto a replacement aircraft, arriving in Chicago close to four hours late.
We will update our coverage if Southwest Airlines or investigators release further information.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
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